New Hilo Flights from Continental in June

Continental Airlines has announced two new direct flights to the Big Island. The daily non-stop service between Hilo and Los Angeles, and the once-weekly service to Hilo from San Francisco, begins June 9, 2011.

File photo by Wendy Osher (June 2010).

Officials with the Hawaii Tourism Authority say the addition of the routes is welcome news for the state and the recovering tourism industry. Based on agency projections, the new flights could bring nearly 40,000 more visitors to the island and generate $50.6 million in direct visitor spending.

The airline will use a 160-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the new routes.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Collectively, the airlines provide service to Hawaii from hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Houston, Chicago and Newark/New York.

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Company executives say the flights will offer customers convenient, nonstop service to the Big Island without having to connect in Honolulu.

The Los Angeles to Hilo route Departs L.A. daily at 5 p.m., arriving in Honolulu at 7:40 p.m. The return flight departs Hilo at 8:55 p.m. daily and arrives in L.A. at 5:15 p.m. the next day.

The San Francisco to Hilo route departs Saturdays only from San Francisco at 4:20 p.m., arriving in Hilo at 6:40 p.m. The return flight departs Hilo on Saturdays only at 9:20 p.m., arriving in San Francisco at 5:20 a.m. the next day.